AA/RAC Vehicle check... worth it?

RCUK · 08-15-2011, 09:12 AM

Im looking at buying a car... but its 350miles away from me and i dont wanna drive all that way to see a pile of junk so was tempted to have AA/RAC look at it for me.

Car is for sale on ebay so always concerened when buying anything off ebay - let alone spending £6k there.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Alternative thought was to go up there and take the car for an MOT prior to purchase as that should spot anything majorly wrong with it

TMP · 08-15-2011, 09:20 AM

oooo what ya going to buy then?

my advice is almost 16 years old when i bought my first car - RAC did a great check over it. Well it was actually my 2nd car, as the 1st one i had to sell as it needed a lot of welding - which RAC or anybody who knows about cars would have spotted!

peterg1965 · 08-15-2011, 09:22 AM

Put the link up and we will give it a good e90post internet critique from afar !

RCUK · 08-15-2011, 09:49 AM

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=p5197.c0.m619

Rather like this... and for the money!

TMP · 08-15-2011, 10:49 AM

5k! that seems a bargain.....

nice car

peterg1965 · 08-15-2011, 11:36 AM

Wow, looks like good value to me. Good service history from Main Dealer (am sure the missing stamp could be verified). What's the catch? Is it in the top VED band or something and what is the MPG like?

jjbirch · 08-15-2011, 12:56 PM

looks a v nice car these cars are so easy to clock, so make sure its the right miles on the dash,

RCUK · 08-15-2011, 03:17 PM

All what u guys have said is what makes makes feel its too good to be true.

But then again on the forum one recently went for £5k with some work done on it too, so maybe thats the price?

MPG... around town is about 19... combined is 28ish
VED .. £445

Thats why these arent selling - running costs.

But as ill be driving on the weekends only i can afford to not worry about mpg.

Sent the guy a message and he said no probs re AA going to check it, so for £109 im tempted to get them to and to run an HPI check on it too.

p1tse · 08-15-2011, 06:18 PM

worth checking the last MOT and any advisories

however before shelling out, get some terms with the seller as people are bidding on it already. last thing you want to do it shell out for a check and someone pips you on the bidding by a few pounds

rogerxp · 08-16-2011, 04:17 AM

I'd defo get one. I nearly bought an E46 330i (before the one I got) from a trader but arranged for an RAC check, due to the engine size it ended up being more like £250 though, but turned out the car was an absolute bag of spanners. I ended up losing my deposit also (turns out the trader was a complete twat too

) when I backed out but saved myself a fortune. Would I have spotted everything, doubtful. Would I have spotted enough to put me off the car, maybe. RAC spotted everything, perfect.

RCUK · 08-16-2011, 08:11 AM

Car went for £5800... by the time i paid the train fair and petrol to go get it... would have been nearer £6100...

Not worth that in my book - so gonna keep an eye out for something else.

08-15-2011, 09:12 AM	#1
RCUK Lieutenant Colonel 100 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 911 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orpington, Kent iTrader: (4)	AA/RAC Vehicle check... worth it? Im looking at buying a car... but its 350miles away from me and i dont wanna drive all that way to see a pile of junk so was tempted to have AA/RAC look at it for me. Car is for sale on ebay so always concerened when buying anything off ebay - let alone spending £6k there. Anyone have any thoughts? Alternative thought was to go up there and take the car for an MOT prior to purchase as that should spot anything majorly wrong with it __________________ Been there, done that, driven the 'Ring
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08-15-2011, 09:20 AM	#2
TMP Brigadier General 349 Rep 3,022 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (0)	oooo what ya going to buy then? my advice is almost 16 years old when i bought my first car - RAC did a great check over it. Well it was actually my 2nd car, as the 1st one i had to sell as it needed a lot of welding - which RAC or anybody who knows about cars would have spotted! __________________ M2 Arrived! Family 5er
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 09:22 AM	#3
peterg1965 Brigadier General 164 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport, F15 X5 40d Join Date: May 2007 Location: The place of dark satanic mills, UK iTrader: (0)	Put the link up and we will give it a good e90post internet critique from afar !
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 09:49 AM	#4
RCUK Lieutenant Colonel 100 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 911 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orpington, Kent iTrader: (4)	http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=p5197.c0.m619 Rather like this... and for the money! __________________ Been there, done that, driven the 'Ring
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08-15-2011, 10:49 AM	#5
TMP Brigadier General 349 Rep 3,022 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (0)	5k! that seems a bargain..... nice car __________________ M2 Arrived! Family 5er
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08-15-2011, 11:36 AM	#6
peterg1965 Brigadier General 164 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport, F15 X5 40d Join Date: May 2007 Location: The place of dark satanic mills, UK iTrader: (0)	Wow, looks like good value to me. Good service history from Main Dealer (am sure the missing stamp could be verified). What's the catch? Is it in the top VED band or something and what is the MPG like?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 12:56 PM	#7
jjbirch Banned 75 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	looks a v nice car these cars are so easy to clock, so make sure its the right miles on the dash,
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08-15-2011, 03:17 PM	#8
RCUK Lieutenant Colonel 100 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 911 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orpington, Kent iTrader: (4)	All what u guys have said is what makes makes feel its too good to be true. But then again on the forum one recently went for £5k with some work done on it too, so maybe thats the price? MPG... around town is about 19... combined is 28ish VED .. £445 Thats why these arent selling - running costs. But as ill be driving on the weekends only i can afford to not worry about mpg. Sent the guy a message and he said no probs re AA going to check it, so for £109 im tempted to get them to and to run an HPI check on it too. __________________ Been there, done that, driven the 'Ring
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 06:18 PM	#9
p1tse Lieutenant 28 Rep 553 Posts Drives: Need more space Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: England iTrader: (2)	worth checking the last MOT and any advisories however before shelling out, get some terms with the seller as people are bidding on it already. last thing you want to do it shell out for a check and someone pips you on the bidding by a few pounds __________________ iDrive Pro Sat Nav with a mind of its own!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2011, 04:17 AM	#10
rogerxp Major General 164 Rep 5,950 Posts Drives: M3 Comp Pack / QQ+2 Tekna Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stockport, Cheshire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 350Z GT Roadster [2.00] 2004 Honda S2000 [0.00] 2005 Nissan 350Z GT ... [0.00] 2006 E92 BMW 335i SE [9.00] 2003 Maserati 4200 [6.00] 2006 E90 330d M Sport [0.00]	I'd defo get one. I nearly bought an E46 330i (before the one I got) from a trader but arranged for an RAC check, due to the engine size it ended up being more like £250 though, but turned out the car was an absolute bag of spanners. I ended up losing my deposit also (turns out the trader was a complete twat too ) when I backed out but saved myself a fortune. Would I have spotted everything, doubtful. Would I have spotted enough to put me off the car, maybe. RAC spotted everything, perfect. __________________ Current -: MW E92 M3 Competition Pack / Qashqai+2 Tekna 1.6dci Gone -: 370Z GT Roadster; BMW X3 3.0d xdrive M Sport; E46 330i M Sport Coupe; Mazda RX8 231; Nissan 350Z GT Roadster; BMW E90 330d M Sport; BMW E92 335i SE; Maserati 4200; Nissan 350Z; Honda S2000; Astra Coupe Turbo; Ford Probe
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08-16-2011, 08:11 AM	#11
RCUK Lieutenant Colonel 100 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 911 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orpington, Kent iTrader: (4)	Car went for £5800... by the time i paid the train fair and petrol to go get it... would have been nearer £6100... Not worth that in my book - so gonna keep an eye out for something else. __________________ Been there, done that, driven the 'Ring
	Appreciate 0 Quote

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